Automobile spring suspension



Feb. 4, 1930. w. w. woon 1,745,881

AUTOMOBILE SPRING SSPENSION Filed Dec. l0, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet l 7 Y zg] 2.45 ci" PL /J /7 4: "u," Z6' @v 7 :uni l 7.9 Z0

z Syvum/tez WWM/bad.

Feb. 4, 1930.

W. W. WOOD AUTOMOBILE SPRING SUSPENSION Filed Deo. 10,. 1925 s sheets-sheet 2 ulmlmlll MWh/aad.

Feb. 4, 1930. w. w. woon 1,745,881

AUTOMOBILE SPRING SUSPENS ION Filed Deo. 10,- 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Y showing the reactions from obstacles en- Figs. 8 and 9, fragmentary sectional views showing two forms of connection of the spring suspension to a rear axle; Figs. 10 and 11, a fragmentary plan view and section respectively, of a modified form of pivotal connection of the axle to the spring; Figs.v 12, 13 and 14, diagrammatic `v1ews countered by a wheel; and y l Fig. 15, a fragmentary side elevation partl in section of a modified form of the invention. e c Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings. I Y

kThe chassis or frame of an automobile is shown at 1, the front axle at 2, and rear axle housing at 3, and the wheels carried thereby at 4. These parts may be'ofy well *known construction, kthe invention residing in the spring suspension, whereby the axles are con.-V nected to the chassis or frame of the vehicle.

In Fig. 1 a vertical pivot may be provided by locating the spindle 6 through a bearing 7 in the front axle, at a point near each side of the frame or chassis, this spindle having a l head 8 to which one end of a forwardly ex- Y the chassis by a transverse pivot, a stop 17 `being provided upon the chassis for engaging the link 15 and limiting the'forward movementthereof.

In Fig. 2, the spindle 6a` is journaled in the vertical bearing 7a of the axle andthe head 82L of the spindle is provided with the ears 8b through which is journaled a longitudinal horizontal pin 8c upon which the block 8ai is i journaled. This pin 8c may be omitted if the spring is sufliciently flexible. The spring 9a may be rigidly connected to the block 8d intermediate its ends, as shown at 9", the forward end of the spring being rigidly connected to a bracket 10 fixed to the chassis and the rear end of the spring being preferably connected by a universal' joint 14a'to a link 15a which is connected as bythe universal joint 16EL to a bracket 18 carried by the chassis, a stop`17a being provided upon the bracket to limit the forward movement ofthe link.

In Fig. 3, the front axle 2 is provided with a U-shaped member 19 which extends upward beyond the axle, and is connected to a smaller U-shaped member 20, resting upon the top of l the axle, by means of a horizontal pin 21, to Y which is pivoted the block 22, said block being provided'rwith a vertical spindle `23, upon which the collar 11a is journaled.

This collar is connected vby a transverse izontal axis as at 25, which is pivotally connected to the bracket 26` upon an inclined pivot 27, the rea-rend of the lever being pro-` vided with a bearing 28 journaled upon. the

pin 23. A projection 24,a is formed upon the .i

forward portion'of the lever and provided with a roller 24b which engages the free end of a spring 29, the other end of which is car- Vv Y chassis. n f .y t In Fig. 4, the spindle 6b islocated through rled upon a rigid bracket, 30, xed upon the` ya vertical ybearing 7 b in the axle, and provided with a head`8e. l A block 8h is pivoted upon v the ears 8f of` the head by the horizontal pin 8g and the lower end of thespring 9b, which is preferably straight as shown,fis fixed to said block, the forward end thereof beingI connected in the manner shown in Figjl. f Y

A'collar 11b is journaled upon the spindle 6b and the rear link 12, similar to the link 12 shown in Figs. 1 and ,3,r is connected to said collar as by the transverse horizontal pivot 13b. i

A further modification is shown in Fig. 5,V

in which the vertical spindle Y6c is located through the vertical bearing 7 c in the axle and provided'with the head 8i to which'is `con-V nected the. intermediate portion of kthe leaf i spring 50, the rear end thereof being connect-l ed by the transverse pivot 51 toa link 52 suspended vfrom the chassis upon the transverse Y pivot 53, a stop 54 being provided to limit the f forward movement thereof.`

The forward end of thespring is connected byy a transverse pivot 55 with the link 56,

which is suspended from they chassis by the ,Y

transverse pivot 57. An angulararm 5 8 is provided upon the link 56fand carries a roller 59 which engages the free end ofthe spring 60, the other endofwh' chassis as bythe ybracket V61.

" In Figs. 8 and 9 is shown one means of at- Y aching the spring suspension toa rear axle.

The form of spring illustrated isthat shown ch is Vfixed to the in Fig. 2, in which spring 9a isconnected, at

its front and rear ends to the chassisvand'at an intermediate point'toy the axle. Ineach of these forms, the spring is vfixed intermediate its ends to 'a block 31 pivoted upon a longitudinal horizontal pin 32 car-` ried between ears 34 Vof a head 35, provided with a'spindle 36 or 36aM j ournaled in a bracket 37 or 37a, which is clamped upon the rear axle housing 38, thus providing lfor a movement of the spring similar to that of the front axle.

In Figs. 10 and `11'is shown a modified form of pivotal connection ofthe axle to the spring.

n this form, a square sleeve 65 is located around the spring and connected thereto as y by the bolt 66. A trough 67 is mounted upon the top of the axle `2 and the sleeve 65 is loosely seated therein, a strap 68, provided with an aperture 69 to accommodate the head of the'bolt 66, being located over thev sleeve 65 f and connected at opposite ends to the axle .as

' at 70. Curved springs 71 are located between each sidey of the spring 72 and the adjacent frame at a point substantially above the axle 2, as shown at 101, the lower end of said spring being connected to the axle as by the vertical pivot shaft 102. The rear connection of the y axle to the vehicle frame may beas by a rigid rod 12 connected in the same manner as above described. v

f From the above, it will b'e-seen that in each V'case the axle is so connected to the chassis or frame that when the axle moves with relain motion, the lineof least resistance to such motion, as traced on a vert1callong1tud1nal y plane, is approximately .450 upward and backward.y

`The connection of the axle to thefmember or members connecting it to the chassis or yframe is by means of a connection which permits motion as about a substantially vertical pivot and also as about a longitudinal horizontal pivot. The connection of the suspenksion member to thevchas'sis or frame at the rear of the axle may be by a link on a plain transverse pivot, or pivots having universal motion at one or both ends, or by a flexible link.

In Figs. 12, 13 and`14 are shown in diagram, a side elevation, front elevation and plan respectively of a wheel and portion of the vehicle. The mass center supported by this V wheel is shown in each figure at MC. `By f referring to vthese figures, it will be clearly seen that the reactions from the average obystacles on the road shown at O, do not act along lines passing through the mass center aected, but at some distance to one side f thereof. c.

The vertical component is indicated at VC, the longitudinal horizontal component at LHC and the transverse horizontal component at THC. My experiments havey proven that the provision made by the improved spring suspension for utilizing the moment impressed on the center of the mass, as indicated, by the longitudinal horizontal component, vresults in transforming this component into a downward pull on the chassis andan upward pull on the wheel and axle. t

. The wheel is. thus atleast partially lifted over the obstacleand the .downward pull on the chassis counteracts or balances or neutralizes, v wholly or.y partially, the upward thrust received from the'vertical 'component ofthe reaction.

dinary obstacle vanda given vehicle mass, the

upward and downward forces impressed on the chassis will balance or neutralize each other to such an extent that when the wheel encounters and surmounts an obstacle, it will have practically no apparent elfect on the chassis.

The forces impressed on the chassis by the vertical component and the transverse horizontal component also act as turning moments exerted about the mass center affected, the one due to the vertical component being neutralized as above described, while the one due to thetransverse horizontal component is ordinarily too slight to require any more vprovision than the cushioning eifect inherent' in this construction.

Thus when any wheel encounters an obstacle, the axle is permitted tu move with relation to the frame, allowing the wheel to lag in relation to the frame, affording more time for the wheel to surmount the obstacle and cushioning the horizontal component of the reaction from the obstacle.

Opportunity is afforded for the combined mass ofthe wheel and axle and that portion of the vehicle mass supported thereby to tend to rotate about a common center as the horizontal component of the reaction is impressed on the wheel spindle, causing this forceto be absorbed in lifting the wheel over the obstacle and exerting a proportionate downward force upon the chassis or frame.

This depressing force exerted on the frame comes into opposition to the upward force impressed on the frame by the vertical component of the reaction from the obstacle, the two forces wholly or partially neutralizing each other, thus tending to leave the frame undisturbed.

Consideration of theabove makes it obvious that this device utilizes the eifect of tical axis extending from one of the members, 'ancla bearing journalling the shaft mounted on the other member.

2. The combination of a vehicle framefan.

axle and a sustaining member connected to the 'axle as by a substantially vertical pivot,' and a pvotecl link connecting the sustainingV member to the vehicle frame at one point.

Thek combination of a AVehicle frame,y an v.axle and a substantially half-round suspension spring connected-at one end tothe Vehicle frame and pvotally connected to the axle as by a substantially Vertical pivotal connection. v

In estmony `that I claim the above-I have hereunto subscribed vmy name.

WALTER, Woon 

